Kaitianite is an extremely rare titanium oxide mineral discovered within the Kaitian impact crater. It occurs as microscopic, opaque metallic grains associated with high-pressure impactites and is primarily of interest for advanced mineralogical study.
Is this kaitianite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch kaitianite with a known reference. Kaitianite sits at Mohs 6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Kaitianite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kaitianite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains.
Often confused with
Kaitianite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads metallic on Kaitianite and submetallic on Manaccanite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kaitianite leaves black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic on Kaitianite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside kaitianite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kaitianite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ti₂O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 5.79 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral to Subhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Impact Crater Rocks
- Typical price
- very rare, market price unavailable
Where rockhounds find kaitianite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kaitian crater, Guangdong Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in impact crater rocks country, the host setting where kaitianite typically forms. If you start seeing corundum, hibonite, spinel in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral to subhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find kaitianite on the map
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